Clip.



No. 763,303. PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904. J. A. MAYERS.

GLIP.

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30 MODEL.

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Patented June 21, 1904.

JOSEPH ALEXANDER MAYERS, OF REDBANK, NEW JERSEY.

CLIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 763,303, dated June 21, 1904. Application filed August 26, 1903. Serial No. 170,787. 7 (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ALEXANDER Finance, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Redbank, county of Monmouth, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clips, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partthereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to clips for retaining a series of superposed sheets; and it consists in certain improvements in the type of clip disclosed in my copending application, filed April 30, 1903, Serial No. 154,984, wherein is set forth an article of the character mentioned comprising an outer clamping member embodying a loop and an inner clamping member presenting two adjacent tongues, both members formed integral and normally occupying a common plane. In the construction of the said copending application the configuration of the inner and outer tongues, as well as that of the device generally, is of rectangular character, resulting in comparatively broad ends for said tongues, not always convenient for clamping application, but responsible for a certain amount of unstability of the clip at the relative connecting-points of both the inner and outer tongues. By my improvements both the outer and inner tongues have rounded engaging ends, thus facilitating the clamping application of the device, the construction of the latter generally rendered more compact and stable and an appreciable economy effected in the amount of metal required in the production of the clip.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a face view showing on an enlarged scale my improved clip. Fig. 2 is top edge view of the same, the dotted lines indicating the positions assumed by the tongues when relatively spread for the purpose of clamping. Fig. 3 is another enlarged face view illustrating a modification. Fig. 4 is a somewhat similiar view showing a form of the clip more particularly adapting the same to be made from sheet metal. Fig. 5 is a top edge view of the clip disclosed in the preceding figure.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the clip is made in a single piece of resilient wire, if preferred, having a considerable part at both sides of its mid-length bent to present an outer tongue A, comprising the curved sides a a, which forwardly or downwardly converge and merge in the rounded end or nose a. At their upper ends the sides a are succeeded by inward horizotal bends o which at points quite close to each other have downward turns 6 b, constituting the connections for two inner tongues B B, each embodying a straight depending member 5', which is centrally locatedwithin the outer tongue and lies closely parallel with the corresponding member 5 of the companion tongue B. Each member 6 has a lower rounded outwardly-disposed turn 6 some distance above the nose a of the outer member, said turn constituting the rounded engaging nose or end of its particular tongue B, the remainder of which is presented by an ascending extended terminal portion I), curved to lie closely parallel with the contiguous side a of the tongue A at a point within the same. It will be noted that the relation of the outer and inner tongues is such that the end a of the outertongue occupies a position beyond the tongue ends 6 Consequently in applying the clip to a plurality of sheets of paper for the purpose of clasping the same together the clip is so presented to the sheets at one edge thereof that the tongue A is in a position with the extreme portion of its free end hearing against the surface of the lowermost of the sheets near said edge, the free ends of the tongues B B being clear of the same. With the clip thus held by the fingers of one hand the thumb of the same is caused to exert a slight pressure against the parallel members 6 t to displace the tongues B B relative to the outer tongue, whereupon the sheets can be moved by the other hand to a position fully between the tongue A at one side and the tongues B B at the opposite side, and upon the removal of the thumb-pressure the tongues will tend to rcassume their normal relation, thereby effectively clasping and retaining the contiguous portions of the sheets together. Manifestly the greater the number of sheets the more pressure will be required in displacing the tongues B B. The relatively projecting end a of the outer tongue will serve as a guide in directing the papers into position between the elasping-tongues. Those portions of the device constituting the intersections of the sides a with the horizontal bends a serve as turning-points or fulcrurns a for said bends (4 the extended terminals 7) turning about points contiguous to the ends I) in order to generally maintain the parallel disposition of the outer and inner tongues in the clamping condition. I attach importance to the forwardly-eontracting character of both the outer and inner tongues and also to rounded ends of the same, as such features enable the clip to engage and clasp the sheets of paper without the difficulty that might be experienced were they broad and transversely straight at their ends, as in my other construction before referred to. The curved convergence of the sides of the outer tongue, as Well as outer sides of the inner tongues, results in a comparatively compact device and, furthermore, tends to greater stability of relation of the several tongues. Another advantage is that considerably less material is required for the improved form of the clip than is involved in the said prior construction.

In the arrangement disclosed in Fig. 3 both the outer tongue A and inner tongues B B are not of the contracting configuration of the device illustrated in the two previous figures, the tongues A B B having, however, the ends a b rounded for facilitating the engagement of the clip, as previously explained.

The form of clip set forth in Figs. 4 and 5 is particularly adapted to be produced by being stamped from sheet metal, both the outer tongue A and inner tongues B B converging toward their rounded ends a If. The ascending outer members 7) of the tongues B are disclosed in close parallel relation with the sides a, of the outer tongue, said members 6 merging at their upper ends in inward horizontal turns 7/ parallel with the corresponding turns a of the tongue A. The turns integrally join at their inner ends with the vertical members 7) of the inner tongues, this arrangement serving to impart strength and contributing to the perfect production of the clips in the stamping operation.

It will be comprehended that the improved clip is not only simple and conveniently manipulated, butitis comparatively inexpensive.

The normal position of all the tongues in a common plane presents the advantages of the similar feature in my other form of clip.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A clip for retaining a plurality of superimposed sheets, comprising an outer clampingtongue with lower rounded closed end, and an inner clamping member embodying two tongues, each having a lower closed rounded end, all of said tongues formed integral and normally occupying a common plane.

2. A clip for the purpose described, comprising an outer clamping member having sides terminating in a lower closed rounded end, and inner tongues, each embodying a centrally-located depending member, a lower closed rounded end and an outer extended ascending member, said outer clamping member and inner tongues being integral and all occupying a common plane.

3. A clip for the purpose described, comprising an outer member having downwardlyeonverged sides terminating in a lower closed rounded end, and inner tongues, each comprising a centrally-located straight depending member, a lower closed rounded end, and an outer extended ascending member, the latter lying parallel with the contiguous side of the outer tongue, said several tongues being intogral and all occupying a common plane.

In testimony thatl claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have signed my name, in pres ence of twowitnesses, this 19th day of August, 1903.

J OSEPll ALEXANDER MAYERS.

Witnesses:

B. PATTERSON, M. LYNCH. 

